Welcome Ayia Lindquist, new Ridge to Reefs staff!

Ayia Lindquist has roots in the Caribbean, born on the island of St. Croix, and raised along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Her lifelong connection to these precious ecosystems informs her passion for environmental protection and restoration.

She received a Bachelor's degree in Geography with an emphasis in Environment and Society at San Diego State University in 2019. Through this program she became heavily involved in environmental justice issues on campus and out in the community, and worked with community gardens in Southeast San Diego. After college, she continued to follow the environmental justice path.

Ayia has worked in environmental education with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) and Patuxent Riverkeeper, creating curriculum for students living in frontline communities. She has worked in policy, serving as the community coordinator for Maryland District 30 for Senator Sarah Elfreth, and has been a volunteer with the Maryland Campaign for Environmental Human Rights. Most recently, Ayia has been working on Chesapeake Bay projects, including the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, and she is a "Making History Campaign" Fellow with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Ayia is passionate about climate solutions, particularly sustainable and regenerative agriculture. The pandemic served as an important catalyst for her to analyze where her food was coming from and the impact it has on the environment. This led her to begin working and volunteering with regenerative farms in her area. She is now the director of education for Wild Kid Acres, a biodynamic farm in Edgewater, Maryland. Ayia serves as an appointed member of the Anne Arundel County Agricultural Commission.

In her free time, Ayia loves to garden, travel, take care of her pets, and watch reality tv.

We are delighted to welcome Ayia to the Ridge to Reefs team!